Comments on: Wisconsin: "America has now lost one of its states to socialism"

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:03:00 +0000

I kind of hope you are. I always like to watch “progressive” Yankees suffer for their own arrogant stupidity. Just please please please don’t move south when your economy collapses. And if you do, don’t start every other sentence with “Back in Wisconsin. . . (everything was wonderful)” or “Down here . . (everything stinks, but I came here because I can afford to live here).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:02:00 +0000

Here in Wisconsin, this is widely viewed as a stunt by the state senate (controlled by Democrats) and the governor (democrat). It will not be passed. It would require a doubling of all state taxes. The state income tax would double to 14% flat rate. Sales to 10%. payroll employment taxes likewise. We’re Progressive in Wisconsin but not stupid.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:42:00 +0000

“‘Health Care Networks’ will submit per-person bids to the Healthy Wisconsin Board of Trustees. A ‘Health Care Network’ is defined as a ‘provider-driven, coordinated group of health care providers comprised of primary care physicians, medical specialists, physician assistants, nurses, clinics, one or more hospitals, and other health care providers and facilities, including providers and facilities that specialize in mental health services and alcohol or other drug abuse treatment.’”

“A savings of $1.6 billion, the study found, would come from reductions in administration of insurance plans and $400 million in administration of plans in doctor’s offices and hospitals.”

Well that’s… optimistic. There is also no mention of who makes capitation/utilization decisions. If you’re not allowed to do it at all, then it will be a TennCare fiasco all over again, if it’s the “bidders” then I have no idea what is supposed to separate the new “Health Care Networks” from the old “Insurance Companies”.

By: Greg P

Greg P — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:38:00 +0000

Regardless of the pundits and editorialists, Wisconsin is in a position to teach us what might work, what might not.
I will be especially interested in what the feedback is from the state’s physicians. For them I think it will come down to whether practicing medicine is more or less of a hassle, and especially whether collecting payment for what you do is not the struggle it is everywhere else.

By: Alijor

Alijor — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 22:22:00 +0000

I'm not sure if that's an accurate assessment. First of all, it's completely dismissing the fact that- had the government not paid- he may have never gotten a chance to have that operation anyway.

Also- doctors make mistakes, and people try to save money (often completely inappropriately) even with private insurance.

The trick is that IF government (employers, people, etc) make the payments to hospitals, universalized healthcare could work, and healthcare will improve as a result of more competition (no one is proposing socialism, just mandated insurance) but if they don't (and the problem is usually the budget runs out), then hosptals will cut corners and the quality will go down.

Also- I love your site, I've linked it!

Cheers,
Marie
Alijor.blogspot.com